Revisiting The Apple TV / Mac Mini Combo
Well, I haven’t done any totally unfounded Apple speculation in a while — so here goes.
First off, Apple spokesman Bill Evans is quoted as saying Apple’s current product line going into the holidays is solid — there will be no new products announced until the new year. This fall, we had refreshes to the iPod and the MacBook line. That leaves just the iMacs, and conveniently, the Mac Mini and the Apple TV.
It’s often been bandied about that one way to improve the sales of both the Apple TV and the Mac Mini would be to just combine them into one product. This makes more sense now both products are overdue for a refresh.
Chuqui over at Chuqui 3.0 has a good run down of what this new Apple TV / Mac Mini could entail. He envisions two boxes, one with HDMI, 5.1 surround sound, and Netflix streaming. A second, better, box would be an Apple TV with full Mini capabilities, larger storage and the ability to use it as a home computer. It seems two Apple TV / Minis would be necessary, to retain a low entry point around $200 — 300 for the folks not as interested in the computing side.
Basically, it would be up to the user whether to use the more expensive Apple TV in the home entertainment system or as a home computer. This Apple TV would have Front Row software that resembled the current Apple TV’s.
Anyhow, speculation aside, my personal desire is that Apple doesn’t kill the Mac Mini — since I currently have one as a primary desktop machine and really love it. But I’m already considering what I’ll do if Apple kills that diminutive product — probably purchase an iMac, and delegate the Mini to the entertainment system in addition to our Apple TV. Then there’s the likelihood of an iMac refresh which I admittedly haven’t contemplated at this point.
But then my mind goes on overdrive and considers what other wacky stuff could happen (but probably won’t) — an Apple television with the Apple TV built in, or the 2009 iMac is actually a Tablet Mac on a stand, or the Apple TV and Mac Mini are killed because Apple doesn’t want to sell anything under $1000.
Ah well, the only thing anybody can be certain of are some new Apple products as soon as MacWorld 2009.
Sorry but this is a really dumb article.
Mac Minis sell great now already (check Amazon). Businesses and price conscious consumers are the main market for them, not HTPC mediaphiles. Apple isn’t going to screw that up by trying to morph them into something more like AppleTV. us mediaphiles adapt them anyway — connect it with a TiVo HD (which will soon stream Netflix), install Toast 9, and add a 1T external drive for storage and you’re in great shape. Apple’s not going to build an expensive combo unit like that, and it shouldn’t.
Everyone agrees AppleTV is weak and missing something. but what? unlike most, i don’t think it’s adding hardware like BluRay or a TV tuner/DVR. i think instead it’s a UI interface revolution — bridging or mirroring the iPhone/Touch onto your bigscreen TV. which would include the internet/cloud and all those amazing very cheap apps with the iPHone/Touch as a remote control that was far superior to the standard cursor controls (including Apple’s) that we have been stuck with for 30 years..
Thanks for providing your amazing insight. Continue making the world a
less-dumb place.
Apple might be waiting for the all digital US TV in February 2009 to announce the new Mac Mini and Apple TV taking advantage of the optimized Mac OS X, the Snow Leopard. Most probably the announcements of these products will be at Macworld 2009.
BETTER!!!!! Convert the iPOD Touch into a APPLE TV!!!!
I think a lot of average people out there do not understand Apple TV. That is why I am in the camp that says that it needs a blu-ray drive to help boost sales. Average people understand a DVD player. WHen they find out what all it can do, they may never buy another DVD again. Much like boot camp in OS X. I am sure Apple does not really like Windows on their mac’s, but it is a crutch for new users (like myself). I know I put windows on my Mac pro and have probably used it less than 5 times in the last 18 months.
Maybe re-brand it to TV iPod, or iPod TV. People understand the iPod too.
I agree with the having two products. A pure, cheaper Apple TV, and a Mac Mini Media server that does it all from your couch.
I would like to see it with Slingbox like funtionality.